Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Rodney Moore

Wolf Essers

Hugh Smith

The invention relates to a method for determining the permeation of a barrier layer on the surface of a container (), wherein the container is placed inside a pressure-tight closeable vessel (), is degasified after a conditioning period on the side comprising the barrier layer, the pressure is measured for the duration thereof and measuring data therefrom enables the permeation of the barrier layer to be determined. The permeation of a plurality of containers () can be determined for an industrial application in a consecutive manner in a relatively short period of time by using very simple measuring devices. The invention is characterized in that the pressure-tight closeable vessel () and the container () arranged therein are evacuated, the partial pressures of several substances emitted from the wall of the container are measured and the increase in the pressure-time-curve is determined, representing a direct measurement of the quality of the barrier layer.

Method and device for determining the permeation of a barrier layer

An arrangement for coupling microwave energy into a plasma CVD coating chamber () disposed in a cavity resonator () has a microwave feed () and a microwave waveguide (). So that a plastic container of a size and configuration which differ to a certain degree can be effectively coated in its interior, it is provided that the arrangement is of a substantially cylindrical structure, such that provided at the rear end is a first coaxial waveguide (in the region a) with an internal conductor in the form of an antenna (), an approximately cylindrical waveguide (in the region b) follows in the centre of the arrangement and provided at the front end (in the region c) is a second coaxial waveguide () with internal conductor (), wherein gas can be introduced through a gas feed tube () into the second coaxial waveguide (in the region c), which gas can be activated into the plasma state by the coupled-in microwave energy, and wherein a TM-mode is produced by the antenna () in the plasma region (, c).

Arrangement for coupling microwave energy into a treatment chamber

A machine for simultaneously coating the inner surface of several hollow bodies wherein the machine has a frame holding a hollow body bearing plate having fixed points disposed next to one another in the form of a matrix and a tube support plate having vertically disposed gas feed tubes corresponding with the fixing points, a dividing wall that is also vertically disposed having matching holes corresponding with the fixing points placed next to one another in the form of a matrix and a quartz window fixed on the frame. The bearing and support plates are provided with a drive mechanism for horizontal movement into and out of a treatment chamber for gas treatment in the chamber and for loading and unloading out of the chamber. The dividing wall, the hollow body bearing plate, the tube support plate and other functional accessories form a first module secured to the frame and a second module is provided on the frame imaging the first module. Microwave units are disposed in the form of a matrix between the first and second modules.

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Gardener, MA, United States of America

Rodney Moore